BOLTON NHS staff are celebrating a big boost in fighting infections.

The Foundation Trust has come second top of trusts in the country for improving flu vaccination rates among its staff this winter.

Last year just 13.1 percent of employees took up the jab between September and October, according to figures submitted to NHS Employers.

This year numbers have quadrupled, with 51.6 percent getting vaccinated by the end of October, increasing to 66 percent in November.

The scheme is aimed at frontline staff who have the most contact with the public.

Assistant Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Richard Catlin said: “The national target from the Department of Health is 75 percent and we are aiming for that.

“We did not have a particularly good year last year but we have approached it differently this time.

“Our campaign was very low key but this time we have been engaging more and making sure we get the vaccination out to places where our busy staff could get easier access to it.

“The risk to patients directly from staff not having the jab is fairly minimal and there was no concern that patients developed any flu infection last year because of the lower uptake.

“The risk is actually the other way round. The vaccination ensures we can keep good staffing levels and reduce the risk of infection all round.”

The hospital has 4,850 frontline staff and started the roll out of jabs with 4,000 vaccines available, with the opportunity to order more if demand increases.